Travel documents
Governing: US Department of State crewmember visa guidance. Builds on: L3.1.
The American season
Many yachts spend the northern winter in Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Fort Lauderdale is the main US crew hub, with agencies, training schools and crew houses. For a South African, working this circuit means a US visa.
The visa categories that matter
| Visa | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| D | Crewmembers serving on a vessel in a crew capacity |
| C-1 | Transit through the US, for example to join a ship |
| C-1/D | Combined, where the reciprocity schedule for your nationality allows and the consular officer finds you qualified |
| B-1 | Business visitor; used for crew of private yachts in the case below |
| B-2 | Visitor for tourism |
The key line for yacht crew, from the State Department's crewmember visa page: if you are a crewmember on a private yacht sailing out of a foreign port which will be cruising in US waters for more than 29 days, you do not qualify for a D visa and should apply for a B-1.
In practice many yacht crew hold a combined B-1/B-2. Crew on commercial vessels, and in some circumstances on charter yachts, may need the C-1/D. Which applies depends on the vessel, its operation and your role, and the consular officer makes the decision.
CAUTION - One story, told consistently What you say at the visa interview, on the application form and to the officer at the port of entry must match. Inconsistency is the commonest cause of problems.
Applying from South Africa
Apply at a US consular post in South Africa. Bring evidence of your ties to home, your seafaring documents (STCW, medical), and, if you have one, a letter from a yacht describing the vessel, its flag, whether it is private or commercial, and your position.
Looking for work in Fort Lauderdale
Dockwalking and registering with crew agencies in Fort Lauderdale is a well-trodden route. How US border officers treat job-seeking on a visitor visa is not something this course can settle; be truthful about your purpose and, if in doubt, get advice before travelling.
WARNING - Do not work ashore A visitor visa does not authorise employment ashore in the US. Day-work on a yacht, bar shifts and cash jobs have ended careers.
The Caribbean
Each Caribbean state sets its own entry rules, and they change. The usual pattern for crew flying in to join a yacht:
- a joining letter from the captain or the yacht's agent, naming you, the vessel and the port;
- evidence of onward travel or that you will leave on the yacht;
- a transit visa if you route through a country that requires one.
Once you are signed on and on the crew list, the yacht's agent usually handles clearance formalities in each port. When you sign off in a foreign port, you need to be able to leave: flights, and any visa for the transit country.
TIP - Ask the agent before the yacht moves The yacht's agent in the next port knows the local rules for SA nationals. A short email two weeks before arrival prevents most surprises.
Keeping visas alive
US visas can run for several years, but they sit in your passport. When you renew your passport, keep the old one with the valid visa. Keep scans of both.